Manchester City offered one of their unsettled forwards as part of a package deal to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham last summer, according to a new report.
The Premier League champions identified the England captain as their main target as Sergio Aguero departed the Etihad Stadium following an incredible ten-year spell and joined Barcelona on a free transfer.
The Blues were understood to be targeting a swoop for Jack Grealish and there was confidence at the Etihad Stadium that the club would indeed make the former Aston Villa skipper their record-signing following the European Championships.
The long-drawn saga begun with Harry Kane expressing his desire to challenge for major trophies whilst discussing his future in an interview with former Manchester United captain Gary Neville for The Overlap.
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The 28-year-old revealed his desire to play with Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne and admitted he had never promised to stay at Tottenham for the entirety of his career despite coming through the ranks at White Hart Lane.
Manchester City strengthened their interest in the forward, who was claimed to have a gentleman's agreement with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy over leaving last summer after staying put the previous year under Jose Mourinho.
However, Levy's stance on Kane's current contract at Tottenham - which is set to run until 2024 - and the north London outfit's incredible asking price for the Englishman saw Manchester City accept defeat in their pursuit of Kane.
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Kane announced he would be staying at Tottenham after coming on as a substitute in his side's 1-0 win against Wolves at the Molineux Stadium - having missed the matchday squad for City's visit to Tottenham on the opening day of last season.
However, a new report has revealed the Premier League champions explored alternative options to securing the arrival of the Tottenham star, who was desperate to join hands with Pep Guardiola and compete for major honours.
According to the latest information of Jason Burt of The Telegraph, Manchester City offered Raheem Sterling as part of a player-plus-cash deal to land Harry Kane at one stage of their negotiations with Tottenham last summer.
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Sterling was understood to be open to leaving the Etihad Stadium, alongside the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus, Aymeric Laporte and Bernardo Silva.
The four-time Premier League, who has recently attracted interest from Chelsea, is entering the final year of his existing deal in Manchester and is believed to be wanting to sort his future at City out in the coming few weeks.
Despite City's attempts to include Sterling in an offer for Harry Kane, the Manchester City attacker made it clear he wanted to stay put at the Etihad Stadium.
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The six-time Premier League signed Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for a British record fee of £100 million but began the season in the absence of a natural number nine in the first-team squad.
However, with Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling potentially leaving ahead of the new season, the Blues have acted early in the transfer market and made some eye-catching acquisitions.
City have brought in Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund as well as River Plate star Julian Alvarez to add depth to Pep Guardiola's frontline and bolster their chances of challenging on all fronts next season.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours, Premier League, Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur, Raheem Sterling, Chelsea, Pep Guardiola